The following sponsored guest post is from Ski Famille, a company which provides catered ski chalets in France with in-chalet childcare. They have over 25 years experience and their sole focus is arranging hassle-free, great value holidays for families.
Stress Free Family Ski Holidays
Going on holiday, especially with the family, can often be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you’re extremely excited and looking forward to it, on the other you’re fed up with having to make all the arrangements and are dreading the practicalities of getting through it!
It’s all well and good to say that once you’ve got there, you’ll enjoy yourself but it’s always a little bit more complicated than that. So, what sort of tips do you need for stress-free family ski holidays?
Getting There
The largest and most problematic aspect of a holiday is travelling to the place you are going to. This might be a minuscule detail, like uncomfortable seats for the kids, or a much bigger one – like a big delay.
The biggest tip is to book your flights, trains and transfers to your ski resort in advance – preferably through a provider with a good reputation and connections to the resort that you are going to. This decreases the chances of delays and helps the whole process feel a lot smoother – which is especially important with children.
Once You Arrive
When you arrive, one of the biggest considerations is ‘How are the kids?’ Well, that’s all taken care of if you’ve got in-chalet childcare, so you don’t need to worry about that.
You should be able to spend some time on your own as there are likely to be kids clubs and other activities for them to enjoy. It’s your holiday too! The most important tip to try to de-stress is remember that now you’ve arrived, you’ve got lots of fun things to look forward to.
Keeping Safe on the Slopes
One of the things you might stress over while on holiday is safety. It’s not a bad idea to book a refresher lesson for children; that’s a good way to make sure any safety precautions are known to them. It’s straightforward and will allow them to re-establish good practices for keeping safe.
One of the golden rules is sticking to the runs you’re comfortable going down. This should be easy to determine as long as you don’t accidentally go down a black run – that’s sure to be very stressful!
When You’re Out & About
Crucially, if you’re travelling with very young children, you will need to make sure they are warm enough – or make sure they are being cared for in your chalet.
Take it easy on the slopes when you’re skiing, there’s no point showing off or challenging yourself too hard – keep it safe as there’s nothing more stressful than a weary body.
When it Comes to Food
Feeding yourself on a self-catering family ski holiday is easy enough, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely stress-free.
Stock up – it should be easy to find a supermarket so try to head there on the first day so you are prepared for the week.
Head to markets – in many resorts there are some beautiful little market stalls and other outlets to buy fantastic food. This is great for some local produce, and you can find some real treats to cook up in your chalet.
Use appropriate restaurants – check out the range of restaurants as some may be fine dining whereas others are more casual and better suited to families.
When it comes to money
You could quite easily find yourself fretting over your finances, but it’s a good idea to keep on top of them as things could become costly.
Use a provider who has relationships with resorts; this can save you on your ski pass. Consider opting for a package holiday which can help get you further discounts.
Rent skis unless you’re truly a regular skier as it can be a waste if you don’t use them. Also, avoid buying skis for children, even if they want them, because although they are cheaper they will quickly outgrow them.
Head to the Spa
The obvious choice! Keep yourself relaxed and stress-free by heading to your resort spa – most resorts will offer some spa activities that can be very beneficial for stress.
Massages, body treatments or facials are fantastic ways to keep yourself de-stressed. Why not try a jacuzzi, especially an outdoor one – being in the cold while still feeling hot is an interesting juxtaposition and great fun for children.
Just remember, you’re on holiday, so just relax…..
Heh, the most stressful thing that would happen to us on a ski resort would be me whining about the cold! I am definitely a sunshine and blue sky and hot kind of girl!
Me too! I was so surprised when I actually enjoyed our first ski trip earlier this year. I didn’t whine at all…well, not much. And there’s always the après ski to warm you up afterwards.
I am liking the sound of In chalet care… That sounds perfect!
Just think, if you had in-chalet care for your little one there would be more time on the slopes for you 😉 – I know how you love the skiing!
Great post! Yes it can be daunting taking the kids skiing for the first time. I would high recommend avoiding January (too cold) and February (too busy) and to book your holiday for March or April where the weather is warmer, so the kids won’t freeze in minus degree temperatures (not fun!)
Our kids started when they were both 3 and it does take some accepting that you will lose a lot of skiing time yourself for quite a few years as you encourage, cajole and play with them in the snow. BUT it is so rewarding once they get to a standard when they can finally ski with you!! Skiing as a family is brilliant and is fabulous bonding time which has longevity as the kids become teenagers ….
Some of my biggest tips are to make sure each child has a lip salve, a small 50 factor sunscreen, a packet of sweets (non-chocolate) and a packet of tissues in their ski pockets.
Also sunglasses are a must, but can be picked up easily even in supermarkets over in Europe (and they all by law have to be UV protected).
Thanks so much for this super comment, full of really useful information, especially tips about sunglasses, tissues and sweeties!